The UK defense ministry has awarded contracts to four consortia that will compete for a main contract to build three new Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Royal Navy.
The award of the competitive procurement phase (CPP) design contracts, each initially worth around £5 million, means the FSS competition has successfully moved to the next stage.
Each of the four teams includes international and UK companies, as the government previously stipulated that all contenders would be required to work with British-led teams, with a significant proportion of the build and assembly work taking place in the UK.
The four teams include Larsen & Toubro, which includes UK company Leidos Innovations; Serco/Damen, which includes UK company Serco; Team Resolute, which includes UK companies Harland & Wolff and BMT; and Team UK, which includes UK companies Babcock and BAE Systems.
“The final manufacture contract will be awarded to a UK company acting either solely or as part of a consortium,” the defense ministry said announced the selection of the four teams.
“I am proud to see UK companies stepping up to the challenge of the Fleet Solid Support competition as we begin the next chapter of this British shipbuilding success story,” UK defense secretary and shipbuilding tsar Ben Wallace said.
I wish all the competitors well as we work towards realizing a program which will deliver ships essential for the UK’s security as well as vital jobs and skills.”
The contracts will enable bidders to develop their design proposals and the next stage will seek details of how they would fulfil the wider delivery needs of the program.
Assessment of these proposals will lead to the selection of a preferred bidder and award of the manufacture contract.
The FSS ships will increase the capability and development of the Carrier Strike Group to operate globally by replenishing its stores and ammunition.
